The New York Times (3/26, A6, Zimmer, Subscription Publication) reports that researchers “in Iceland have produced an unprecedented snapshot of a nation’s genetic makeup, discovering a host of previously unknown gene mutations that may play roles” in diverse diseases. In four articles published March 25 in the journal Nature Genetics, scientists “at deCODE, an Icelandic genetics firm owned by Amgen, described sequencing the genomes – the complete DNA – of 2,636 Icelanders, the largest collection ever analyzed in a single human population.” From this “genetic information, the scientists were able to accurately infer the genomes of more than 100,000 other Icelanders, or almost a third of the entire country.”

Related Links:

— “In Iceland’s DNA, New Clues to Disease-Causing Genes,”Carl Zimmer, The New York Times, March 25, 2015.

Medscape (3/26, Keller) reports that research presented March 19 at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases suggests that “higher consumption of green tea was associated with a lower risk for dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI),” but “black tea or coffee did not show the same effect.” Japanese researchers arrived at that conclusion after conducting “a population-based, prospective study of residents of Nakajima older than age 60 years, starting with participants with normal cognitive function in 2007-2008 as evaluated by using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale.”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

USA Today (3/24, Horovitz) reports a new report urges banning the sale of energy drinks to children and adolescents as they can be harmful, citing a study in the April issue of the journal Nutrition Reviews. Children who drink “high-caffeinated energy drinks can suffer negative health, social, emotional and behavioral problems,” the study warns. “The number of hospital emergency-room visits by 12- to 17-year-olds linked to energy drinks increased from 1,145 in 2007 to 1,499 in 2011,” notes the study, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Related Links:

— “Study: Don’t sell energy drinks to kids,”Bruce Horovitz, USA Today, March 24, 2015.

The Washington Post (3/25, Hicks) “Federal Eye” blog reports that the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) “announced plans to relax the agency’s” 40 mile rule for Choice Cards dictating “how far patients must live from the nearest VA medical center before the government pays for treatment at a closer private facility.” The original guideline determined 40 miles to be a straight line, “or as the crow flies, from the nearest VA clinic,” while the revised guideline will “instead measure the distance in driving miles, as calculated by commercial mapping services,” including Google Maps and MapQuest. VA Secretary Robert McDonald said in the announcement, “We’ve determined that changing the distance calculation will help ensure more veterans have access to care when and where they want it.”

Related Links:

— “VA to change 40-mile rule for Veterans Choice program,”Josh Hicks, The Washington Post, March 24, 2015.

Kaiser Health News (3/24, Gillespie) reports that a study (3/24) published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that “for every dollar spent on treating depression, almost five dollars is spent on the treatment and workplace costs of related medical conditions like back and chest pain, sleep disorders and migraines – placing a greater financial burden on businesses and the health care system” in the US. The study “used data from adults 18 to 64 diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2005 or 2010 from an OptumHealth claims database and from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” Robert Roca, who chairs the American Psychiatric Association’s council on geriatric psychiatry and who was not involved with the study, “says the gradual integration of mental health care into primary care means more people may be diagnosed early and treated. ‘The ACA sets the stage for this kind of integration effort, and I’m optimistic that we’ll see benefit down the road.’”

Related Links:

— “Depression, Related Ailments Take Their Toll On The Workplace, Study Finds,”Lisa Gillespie, Kaiser Health News , March 23, 2015.

NPR (3/23, Aubrey) reports in its “Shots” blog on new research that suggests that the “black and white” thinking that there are “alcoholics and everyone else” is being challenged. Dr. John Mariani, a Columbia University researcher, “says that the thinking has evolved, and that the field of psychiatry recognizes there’s a spectrum.” Furthermore, “the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a whole list of tips aimed at cutting down — everything from drinking tracker cards that you can keep in your wallet to help you track your drinking when you go out, to strategies for handling urges.”

Related Links:

— “Rethinking Alcohol: Can Heavy Drinkers Learn To Cut Back?,”Allison Aubrey, NPR, March 23, 2015.

The CBS News (3/23) website reported that today’s marijuana is “more potent by far than the weed sold a generation ago, according to new data being presented Monday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).” Charas Scientific researcher Andy LaFrate, PhD, said, “I would say the average potency of marijuana has probably increased by a factor of at least three. We’re looking at average potencies right now of around 20 percent THC.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse “says the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, but a level of 20 or 30 percent THC is even greater than the institute has reported in the past.”

Related Links:

— “Marijuana far more potent than it used to be, tests find, The CBS News, March 23, 2015.

The Boston Globe (3/27, Schworm, Rocheleau) reports that a statement “by authorities that the copilot of a Germanwings flight deliberately crashed the airliner into the French Alps on Tuesday is renewing questions about whether the aviation industry does enough to screen for mental illness.” Some experts now “argue for a more rigorous system,” given “the enormous stress of the job and the hundreds of lives at stake.” Most airlines “conduct psychological testing during the hiring process, experts said, and applicants that show signs of instability are quickly weeded out,” but once pilots have been hired, they “undergo yearly medical exams that do not include psychological tests.”

Related Links:

— “US system has scant mental health scrutiny,”Peter Schworm and Matt Rocheleau, The Boston Globe , March 26, 2015.

The Hill (3/21, Marcos) “Floor Action” blog reported that the Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members Act, introduced in the House of Representatives last week, “would require new military recruits to undergo a mental health assessment.” The two sponsors of the measure, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), “said it would help the military identify behavior issues early before they manifest into serious psychological problems like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Companion legislation has been introduced into the Senate by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).

Related Links:

— “Bill would require mental health evaluations of new military recruits,”Cristina Marcos, The Hill, March 20, 2015.

The AP (3/20, Warren) reports that across the US, “as police face increased scrutiny for violent encounters…many of which involve people with mental illnesses, law enforcement and advocacy groups are pointing to how the nation treats” people with mental health disorders, noting “a revolving door of emergency room visits and incarceration that they say is ineffective and costly.” While “police crisis intervention efforts and diversion courts are helpful in stemming the violence,” mental health professionals “on the front lines say states need innovative programs and more must be done to” provide preventive “care to curtail explosive moments of crisis.”

Related Links:

— “Police Shootings of Mentally Ill Reveal Gaps in Care,”David Warren, AP, March 19, 2015.